~*BROKEN PROMISES*~

Chapter 12 – Changes

I try to get you up
But you go down
And you are not okay

I wanna carry you
But you won't get up
It's really killing me
You know it's killing me

I wanna join you sleeping peaceful
Feeling the sun in our room
What a plenty of rays and beaming light
Surely, it does me good

I wanna trust the pulse
In which decay is followed by bloom
And I'm sure any flaw will turn out beautiful

Blue Foundation – Watch You Sleeping

JacobPOV

Bella's face expression said it all. She finally put all the pieces together and I knew she was going to be so angry with us when she woke.

Hopefully it wouldn't be before I got her back to the house.

Edward and I tore through the woods as I carried Bella in my arms. I knew bringing her back there was more than likely the biggest mistake I could make, but I couldn't leave her now. She needed to know the complete truth before she went to blaming me for the mistakes that Edward made.

He looked horrible. I knew he felt bad and I only hoped he could smooth things over.

We stopped short of the front door as Carlisle met us.

"What on earth has come over the two of you? Do you realize how dangerous it is to bring a human into the vicinity of a newborn?"

"I know Carlisle but she fainted in front of us. I couldn't leave her in the woods." I snapped back.

"Jacob Black, you should have left her with her father then."

"She knows Carlisle. I couldn't leave her knowing that her current boyfriend has turned into one of us. She's finally to the point of forgiving me and then Edward showed up."

"You told her? What on earth has come over the two of you the past couple of days? It's like the world has turned completely upside down and you have gone completely mad!"

Carlisle never got angry and it was odd to see him behave this way.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things complicated," I said as I hung my head.

As the argument continued, Bella began to wake in my arms.

"Jacob, take Bella into the garage. There is a couch in there and lay her down and grab a cold rag for her and place it on her head. Edward, I need you upstairs, now."

I rushed Bella around the front of the house to the garage. Once inside, I closed the door and placed her gently on the couch. In a flash I had her head in my lap and cold rag on her head.

She opened her eyes, and groggily tried to sit up. She finally got up and scooted away from me on the couch. Her eyes were puffy, red and I knew she was going to want an explanation. I only hoped it was enough.

"What the hell Jacob. Would you please explain to me what is going on?"

"Bella, I swear I had nothing to do with any of this. James came looking for Edward."

She was slouched over on the couch with her face in her hands. After a few moments of really scary silence, she finally sat back up and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"What happened, and don't leave anything out," she pleaded with me.

I sighed. "Jasper's friends came into town looking for fun. They ended up taking us to this Vampire club in Seattle. We were there for a short while and there were humans who were basically using us to get what they wanted, as we were using them for what we wanted in return. Lauren was there."

Her eyes got real big, "Lauren, my old lab partner?"

"Yes, she was a stripper there. Apparently one of Jasper's friends had a thing for her and she was the dancer."

"Do I really want to hear the rest of this?" she asked.

"Yes. It'll explain why Edward did what he did."

She still looked distraught. She cleared her throat, sighed and said, "Continue."

"Lauren was human, so obviously the thirst hit us like nothing else. Normally we can sustain it, but it was too much for all of us to endure. After we excused ourselves from the venture, we all agreed that we needed to drive to Forks to do some hunting."

"We got back to the apartment and all grabbed our car keys, except Edward, he originally had plans to ride with Emmett and Rosalie. After we left the building, he changed his mind and decided to drive anyway."

She kept listening and I hoped that was a good sign.

"James came to see Edward. He thought that you and Edward had a thing and he came to convince Edward to stay away. A fight ensued, not on Edward's part, and James got bit."

Her eyes welled up with tears the moment I blurted out the biting incident. She wiped them away quickly.

"So James attacked Edward for my benefit and Edward bit him. So basically it's my fault James got turned."

My heart broke as she started to endure the guilt that plagued her. She didn't need to feel guilty for the things that other people do.

"Bella, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for other people's issues. James came to Edward without even telling you. Jasper's friends provoked our thirst. It was an unfortunate series of events none which you need to blame yourself for.

"I-If I'd been truthfully to James about my relationship with you, none of this would have happened. I didn't even tell him you were in Seattle even though I felt like you were. And when Edward came to me at the café…I should have said something."

She began to sob heavily. I took her into my arms and sat her on my lap as she cried into my shoulder.

"I knew I smelled a human down here," I heard a voice say.

Alice pranced down the steps to us.

"Not now, Alice. Bella needs a moment."

"It's ok, Jacob. I'm not going to hurt her. I just came to check on her. She seems like she could use a friend."

Bella's eyes lit up. She'd always loved Alice to death and I felt like I ruined their friendship the moment I made my decisions.

"Besides, Edward needs you upstairs. I'll keep her company."

"Thanks, Alice."

I kissed Bella on the forehead. "You going to be ok?"

"I don't know, but I'll try," she whispered to me.

I sat her back down on the couch as I stood. I hated to leave her like that but she didn't seem angry at me. She seemed more confused. I hoped Alice could smooth things over.

I took one more look at her as I headed to the door. I couldn't believe she was still here. I only hoped things would be right between us again.

BellaPOV

As I awoke on the couch I had every intention of telling Jacob Black to leave me the fuck alone and to never speak to me again. His face expression changed all that for me. He looked so sorry for what just happened and I couldn't find it in myself to be angry until I heard the complete story.

When I found out it was Edward who turned James and not Jacob, I felt better about what kind of person Jacob really was. I was pissed as hell at Edward but more so at Jasper's friends for creating this problem to begin with.

I also realized that maybe Jacob was trying to tell me on the cliff but I wouldn't let him tell me about it.

The moment I saw Alice prance down the stairs, I instantly felt better. I missed her so much and it was good to see her again.

"So, Bella, do you even realize how much I've missed my friend?" Alice said to me when Jacob left.

"Probably about as much as I missed mine," I said back.

She hugged me and said, "You know, Jacob hasn't gone a day without missing you. It's all he thinks about. After his thirst came under control, you were all he talked about for over a year. He's still madly in love with you."

"I know I just couldn't get past the whole betraying my wishes issue for a very long time."

Alice shook her head yes, "I understand that. But, look at it from his point of view for one second. He'd just lost the one person who he loved dearly. You didn't expect him to think rationally. Carlisle knew that if he didn't turn him, he'd find a far more dangerous vampire that could have killed him."

She had a point. At least he was alive, if you could call it that.

"Bella, I'm not making excuses for him but he does love you so much. I'm just so glad to see you tonight."

"Alice, what am I going to do? My current boyfriend is a vampire, my ex boyfriend is a vampire. I just feel like I'm alone again."

Alice let out an inappropriate giggle. "Sorry, but you think you are alone? You have friends and family who care about you a lot. You still have me as a friend, you always have. My family cares about you a ton… Jacob cares about you more than you realize. You are not alone."

I smiled at that notion. She was right. Through the past the past couple of years I had felt alone even though there were so many people who cared deeply about me and my well being. Jacob was the biggest one.

"Bella, everything will be ok. You'll see. I have seen great things for you and Jacob. I kept telling him over the past two years to be patient. Patience is a virtue, and he has absolutely the worst sense of patience I've ever seen in anyone. And for the love of all that is good, please tell him to quit wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. It is all he ever wears."

I laughed, "I'll do my best but I can't promise anything. I think he looks sexy as hell in them."

Alice made a gagging noise. "To each his own I guess," she said.

If I decided to stay with Jacob, let James go and be his own, what would it do to me?

For a brief period of time I contemplated what it would be like to have Carlisle change me himself. I missed Jacob that much and I quickly pushed it to the back of my mind once I thought about Charlie and how he would handle it if I suddenly disappeared.

I loved Jacob with all my being and I knew that if I didn't make some sort of decision soon, I would regret losing the love of my life again.

"Alice, I have a question."

"Yes, Bella, it hurts. It's one of the most painful experiences you'll ever go through in your life and you'll be begging to die. I've seen it happen a million times. Even James has gone through it and right now he's being watched. Newborns are very dangerous."

Alice and her all knowing got to me again.

"I've thought about it in all honesty Alice. I missed Jacob so much and I knew the only safe way to make this work would be to turn."

She smiled, "As much as I would love to have you in our family, you do have to realize what you are asking for. It's not like going to the dentist and having a tooth pulled. You don't get a second chance at this."

"I understand that. But if it came down to it, do you think Carlisle would do it?" I asked.

"I'm sure he would, but I don't think you need to worry about that right now. You need to concentrate on rebuilding your relationship before you start working on your immortality. Baby steps, Bella."

I hugged her. I needed words of encouragement.

"How long before I could talk to James, do you think?"

"It'll be out of the question for a while," Carlisle said from behind us.

I"I need to let him know that I'm sorry."

"We've explained the situation to James and he's actually handling it very well. Emmett and Edward are standing guard. Jacob and Jasper went hunting. They need their strength. Dealing with a newborn isn't an easy task."

"Thanks for everything you've done for Jacob. I'm sorry I wasn't there for him."

Carlisle smiled back at me. "We're glad you are working towards forgiving him. It can't be easy and I am sure he appreciates it."

As the afternoon progressed, both James and I were being guarded from each other. Jacob came to see me after his hunt was through and brought me dinner. I made a quick phone call to Charlie to let him know that I was with Jacob. He sounded elated when he found out that we were hanging out. If Charlie knew that I was sitting dead center in a deadly crew of vampires, I'm sure his outlook wouldn't be so happy.

Alice eventually called Charlie for me when I fell asleep on the couch and let him know that we were having a "girl's sleepover" at the house. I woke up not too long after she got off the phone with him. I felt cabin fever creeping up on me as the night progressed and I didn't like being held hostage in the garage.

I accepted the fact eventually that it was the best solution for me. At least I had Jacob protecting me.

I fell asleep sometime after midnight, with my head in Jacob's lap.

JacobPOV

James was being very difficult. He was very pissed off about everything and as Edward, Carlisle and I tried to smooth over the situation, it didn't seem to help any.

"What gives you the fucking right to decide my fate," he yelled at Edward as we had him backed into a corner.

"Fuck you, James. I'm not the one who came looking for a fight. I tried my damndest to tell you to leave before you got into something you couldn't handle."

James looked like a frightened animal as we tried to get close to him. I don't remember being this difficult as a newborn. Carlisle said I made the adjustment very well.

After what seemed like an eternity, James calmed down enough to settle into a conversation.

"Where is Bella?" he finally asked.

I had no idea how to explain this situation to him.

"She's fine. She knows what happened and she's dealing with it in her own way," Carlisle told him.

"She knew what you were, hell what I am now, and she' was ok with all this?" he asked.

"She wasn't exactly happy about the situation either, trust me," I said.

"You're Jacob, that guy who broke her heart aren't you?" James asked me.

Fuck. I stood before a newborn vampire, whose strength outweighed my own, and I had to answer the most difficult question of my life. If I lied, he'd know. If I told the truth, who's to say he wouldn't attack me.

"Yes," I simply said.

James actually burst into a fit of laughter. "So I guess me and you are on an even playing field now huh? She'll probably leave me like she left you. I assume it was because you were a vampire?"

"She did. She's finally reached the point of forgiveness though."

James shook his head no, "How can she forgive you so easily? She left you because you betrayed her. Or at least that's what she told me."

"She has forgiven me. She doesn't hate you either. She knows it wasn't your fault."

"When can I see her," he asked.

"It's probably not a good idea right now," Carlisle said.

"She's my fucking girlfriend," James yelled back as he lunged forward.

It took all the strength that Edward and I had to hold him back from Carlisle.

He finally calmed down enough again. "You can't keep her from me. We need to talk soon."

"We'll figure out some sort of arrangement, until then, you need to calm yourself down. All of us will take you hunting soon. We're not letting you out of this house, however, until you get your attitude and your mind under control," Carlisle said.

My biggest fear about that conversation that would eventually take place was that Bella would forget about me.

I left Edward, Emmett and Jasper to their guard post for James so I could check on Bella.

As I entered the garage, she was pacing back and forth.

"I'm about to lose my mind in this garage, Jacob. I'm slowly developing cabin fever and I need to get out."

"It's for your own good for now, Bella. It's almost midnight. Why don't you try getting some more sleep?"

I sat down on the couch as she curled up with her head on my lap. I slowly stroked her face with the back of my hand until she fell asleep. I couldn't believe that the most beautiful girl in the world lay in my lap, hopefully dreaming of something better for us in the future. I could have stayed like this for an eternity watching her sleep.

Eternity seemed like a great idea with this girl. Hopefully, she would one day have the same idea.

BellaPOV

The smell of the woods was all around me. The ever present sounds of nature enveloped me with my every being. The sounds of the creek flowed through my mind as the water washed away all my fears and anxieties of my life with Jacob. I stood with my hand extended to Jacob as we crossed the stream together.

We ran up the side of the small hill hand in hand as the sun began to break through the clouds that had plagued me for two years. My heart and my soul seemed to be mending with each step that we took and I knew that I had completely forgiven him for the pain and heartache he had put me through all those years without him.

We stood at the top of this hill with love and happiness radiating from our very beings. Jacob dropped my hands for one fleeting second and then his face expression turned first to fear and then anguish.

I looked over my right shoulder right before I felt the piercing pain of razors in my neck. Jacob mouthed the words "NO" but by then it was too late. I felt my flesh tear as the piercing pain took over my body and the feeling of fire ran through my veins.

I dropped to my knees as Jacob grabbed me into his arms. I looked up briefly to see dark red eyes beneath waves of blonde hair stare back at me with the look of thirst radiating from them.

I knew that was all it would take.

I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a huge crash come from above me. Jacob was at the door of the garage, bowed up like he was about to attack.

"What the hell is going on up there?" I said.

"James got out of the room we had him in. Emmett, Edward and Jasper are trying to get to him but he's not cooperating. He caught your scent."

Extreme fear and panic came over me. I knew that if he got to me, there is not telling how far he could take it.

Jacob must have sensed my fears.

"Don't worry, he can't get to you. Last night Carlisle installed a double deadbolt on this door. The only way he can get through this door is by going through three inch steel. After that he'll have to deal with me."

I smiled up at him. "Thanks Jacob."

"Why are you thanking me? It's my job to protect you, Bella."

I felt myself blush. The crashing and banging stopped and I felt my fears ease up.

"I'll be right back, don't go anywhere," Jacob said. He unlocked two deadbolts and quickly shut the door behind him, locking both as he went.

I felt like a prisoner. I knew it was for my own protection but I felt like it wasn't fair that I had to be under lock and key when I had no part in any of this.

It seemed like forever before Jacob returned.

"We took James hunting. It was like having a dog on a shock collar. If he got too far away, one of us would grab him and wrangle him back in."

I actually found myself giggling from that. "Well, has he calmed down since then?"

"Actually yeah he has. He's pretty content in his room right now. I know you are dying to get out of this garage. Would you like to take a walk?" Jacob asked me.

"I would love to. I'm so sick of looking at cars and steel walls."

"What you don't like my car?" Jacob asked.

"Which one is yours?"

"It's the Aston Martin, right over there," he pointed out. It was a really nice car. It didn't seem like something Jacob would drive, but I was impressed.

"Alice gave it to me as sort of a birthday present."

I smiled, "She has good taste. She told me about trying to dress you better."

Jacob laughed. It felt good to be lighthearted.

"She's been trying for two years now, and each time she buys me clothes, it stays in the bag, in the closet. I could make some guy really happy with the wardrobe she's try to wrangle me into. I refuse though."

"I'm glad," I said. "I like the black T-shirt and tight blue jeans. Makes me… well… you know."

Jacob smiled again. I'm sure if he could have blushed, he would have.

He grabbed my hand as we headed out the garage into the woods.